Shea-Porter held the seat for two terms before being ousted by Guinta in 2010. On Tuesday, she was the one to send him packing.Shea-Porter's campaign had highlighted Guinta's support for the austere budget plan crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan and accused him of wanting to end Medicare guarantees.

Shea-Porter is a former a social worker from Rochester. She had never sought elective office before she ran against and defeated Republican Rep. Jeb Bradley in 2006 to become New Hampshire's first female member of Congress.

The race for New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District proved to be among the most competitive on the ballot in this year's election.Shea-Porter captured 49 percent of the vote, compared to Guinta's 47 percent, with 71 of 113 precincts reporting, according to WMUR.

The candidates were separated by less than 4,400 votes shortly after midnight. Libertarian Brendan Kelly received 4% of the vote.Shea-Porter's support was high in Democratic strongholds during Tuesday's election, which saw New Hampshire voters re-electing President Barack Obama and sending another Democrat to the governor's office. Democrat Ann McLane Kuster also defeated Republican Charlie Bass in New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District.

She prevailed in Durham, Dover, Barrington, Farmington, Hampton, Lee and Newmarket, among other local communities.

Guinta's support was also high in predictably right-leaning communities, such as Bedford, where he captured about 62 percent of the vote. However, the GOP turnout was not enough to overcome Shea-Porter's momentum.

For some voters on the Seacoast, it was Shea-Porter's party affiliation rather than her individual merits as a candidate that proved most appealing. Lee resident Dean Rubine said he voted for Carol Shea Porter, “mostly for the 'D' after her name.”

“She's a Democrat, so it was one-sided for me,” Erika Otte, a 21-year-old Milton resident, said.

Cathy Lovely, a 54-year-old Milton resident, also supported Carol-Shea Porter because of her party affiliation.

“I just voted the Democratic ticket because I really don't know that much about the other candidates,” she said.

Somersworth state Rep. Kirsten Larsen Schultz, a 38-year-old marketing consultant, was among those who supported Guinta in the race, explaining that she disagrees with the direction Democrats have steered the country during the last four years.

“Carol Shea Porter was fired for a reason,” Larsen Schultz said, alluding to her defeat in the 2010 election.

Jonathan Swiger, a 24-year-old from Dover, said he backed Shea-Porter in the race in part for her work on environmental issues while in office in the past.

“Also, one of my big things is I'm very much pro women's rights, and Guinta is very much against, you know, abortion in any cases whatsoever, and that was pretty much a hard-liner for me, so I chose Shea-Porter,” he said.